When it comes to the hype surrounding electric-car maker Tesla Motors Inc., one man says he has put his money where his mouth is.

Sam Cornwell, a 32-year-old student in the United Kingdom with a wife and a 10-month-old son, said he invested his personal life savings — about $25,000 — in Tesla back in September when the stock was trading at about $27.50 a share. An article on a tech blog last year initially piqued his interest. After he researched the company and learned more about its chief executive, Elon Musk, he was sold.

“I just poured it all in,” Cornwell said in a phone chat with MoneyBeat Thursday evening. “I’m not a stock expert or an analyst. I just read the news and I believe in the story.”

Apple Inc. and its founder Steve Jobs attracted a similar cult-like following over the years, which propelled the iPhone maker to become the biggest U.S. company ever by stock-market value.

Cornwell specifically compared Tesla’s allure to the excitement Apple has generated throughout the years. The stock enjoyed a huge multi-year rally that pushed it above $700 in September before stumbling over the past several months.

“I feel like one of those Apple fan boys talking about the company,” he said. “I finally understand what those guys have been talking about.”

Tesla shares recently rose 0.7% to $92.85. The stock is up 72% this month.

Cornwell, who said he owned and then sold a computer company in 2005, said he’s not overly worried about any short-term pullbacks damaging his returns. “I’m not stupid,” he said. “If I thought there would be a serious problem with the company, I would sell.

“The story is exciting. I’m addicted to Tesla,” he said. “I talk to my wife about it all the time and she shakes her head, saying ‘god, will you talk about something else?’”

Cornwell said his investment has more than tripled over the past eight months. And despite the run-up, he doesn’t have plans to book any profits just yet.

“I don’t want to sell,” he said. “I’m happy to sit with it until I really need the money.”

If anything, he may even buy more shares at these levels.

“My son is going to get some Tesla stock for his first birthday,” Cornwell said.